Page 10 of Soren

Gabe fought the urge to roll his eyes at her blanket approval of Danny’s husband. It wasn’t her fault she didn’t know Danny’s husband was a monster.

Then what do you call Danny?a snarky voice in his head asked.

Different. It’s different, Gabe told himself for the hundredth time.

He honestly didn’t know what was true anymore. He’d thought, when he moved back to Hyde Park, that he’d have…time. Time to get back into the swing of things after the hell of residency. Time to reconnect with Danny. Time to reconcile his anger at and love for his mother.

But by the time he was even close to settled, his mother had forgotten him, Danny had been practically a stranger, and Gabe had been wondering why he’d even moved back to a town he felt never actually knew him.

Now it was a year later and Danny didn’t really need Gabe at all—he was married to his honest-to-God literal soulmate, for fuck’s sake. Their mother was declining every day, despite the supernatural assistance, with Gabe no closer to unfurling the tangle of emotions she invoked in him.

And Gabe was still trying to wrap his head around the fact thatvampiresexisted. That he was somehow now surrounded by them. That the world he’d fought his whole life to make sense of didn’t come close to what he’d imagined it to be.

Gabe took a deep breath in through his nose and out through his mouth, doing his best not to spiral into that familiar mess of thoughts, focusing instead on Chloe and chatting for a few minutes more while he waited on Dr. Monroe. Chloe even offered to walk Ferdy if Gabe needed some backup.

Danny had somehow found himself some good friends in this stagnant mountain town. For his part, Gabe always felt like he was seeing the same old people from high school everywhere he went. Same former friends. Same former teachers. Same former hookups.

It was all just…exhausting.

After Chloe left, promising to check in about the dog in a few days, Gabe lost the battle and glanced at his watch. It was six o’clock in the morning already.Fuck. Gabe should have been heading out the door already.

He looked over to the patient bay where Dr. Monroe was apparently done with the medicine side of things, focusing his attention now on attempting to flirt with one of the nurses. She, to her credit, looked more bored and annoyed than anything else.

The man was notorious for trying to fuck anything that moved. He’d even tried to figure out which way Gabe swung when he first started at the hospital. No go though. He wasn’t Gabe’s type.

Not that Gabehada specific type. But Dr. Monroe, smarmy bastard, definitely wasn’t it.

As far as who might be… Gabe pointedly ignored when those thoughts immediately led to him picturing a certain beautiful monster. It was clearly time to leave, if his tired brain was going to such stupid places.

“Monroe,” he barked. “Can we get started?”

Dr. Monroe glanced up from his reluctant prey, eyes widening in surprise at Gabe’s harsh tone. “What’s your rush, King? You got a hot breakfast date?” The douchebag sounded a little jealous at the thought.

And then, in a classic case of the world’s worst possible timing…

“Morning, Highness.” The words, coming from directly behind Gabe, were a silky-sweet purr. He hadn’t even noticed anyone approaching.

How did that fucker always move so quietly?

Gabe turned, already knowing what he’d find waiting for him. A bright, maniacal grin. Artfully tousled blond hair. Pale-blue eyes.

The very reason Gabe had been so eager to get out on time that morning. To avoid a situation exactly like this one.

Soren had arrived.

He’d insisted on picking Gabe up at the hospital and driving to the care home together, but Gabe had been hoping to meet his designated chaperone in the parking lot, away from the prying eyes of his coworkers. Clearly Soren had other ideas.

Roman’s little vampire friend was, as always, looking ridiculously fashionable for their small Colorado mountain town, in tight black jeans and some flowy designer top. Gabe didn’t get it. No one needed to look like they just stepped off the runway in a place where the main highlights were hiking trails and winter sports.

At least Soren wasn’t wearing a fucking fur coat, like the first time Gabe had met him. Small mercies.

He didn’t think Soren’s greeting had been loud enough for anyone else to hear, but Gabe went on the defensive anyway. “Stop calling me that.”

He hated that it had only taken a single instance of Soren hearing one of the locals call Gabe by his high school nickname, King, for him to forever mock Gabe for it.

Soren only grinned at him, looking pleased with himself for riling Gabe up with two simple words.

Meanwhile, Dr. Monroe sidled closer to them both, his eyes lighting up in obvious interest. “Who’s your friend, King?”

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